Superb collection! Thanks for posting, and it has reminded me how much I wanted an IWC Aquatimer 812 ......now well beyond my budget I suspect!
I was asked a little while ago to do a state of collection, specifically my super compressors. The collection has remained unchanged for quite some time.
My interest is not confined to just these watches but almost any with two crowns.
In no particular order (and not particularly well photographed):
Wittnauer Geneve x2
Enicar Sherpa Jet x2
Baylor
Sandoz (not working; in fact, a bit of a state )
IWC Aquatimer 812
Rodania Waterman
Gerco
Lip Nautic Ski
Benrus Ultra Deep
Hamilton
IWC Aquatimer 3548
Superb collection! Thanks for posting, and it has reminded me how much I wanted an IWC Aquatimer 812 ......now well beyond my budget I suspect!
Very nice, good to see something different on here.
I know nothing about these - are there many more brands to collect or have you got most of them?
Lovely group. Pictures aren't shabby either.
That's an excellent and different collection, very nice pieces indeed.
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
When I’m starting to think I’ve got too many watches, it’s good to come on here and see a collection that’s slightly bigger and yet is only a subcategory of the collection! Superb set of watches btw.
Thanks for the positive comments guys (not just about the watches)
There are loads more brands and variations within brands. Apart from that there are different types of compressor - these are good references:
http://scubawatch.org/EPSA_SC_FAQ.html
https://wornandwound.com/guide-super-compressors/
Beyond my budget now too!
Blimey. I do believe I've lusted after each and everyone of them at some point ... To say I'm envious is an understatement
Gray
Great collection
Cracking couple of Enicar's. Mine says hello.
Steve
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Last edited by SteveHarris; 2nd May 2019 at 14:01.
All more or less the same case shape, no interest in the LIP Nautic Ski Mk II and Mk III?
Supreme collection, congrats!
Visually 2 crowns always looks well balanced. A lovely different collection that - lusted over a few of those, but never bought a super compressor.
That's a really nice collection of Super Compressors. Great to see them!
I too have a soft spot for these but I stupidly got a bit burnt out on them with all the microbrand homages every five minutes a little while back, silly really but that's me all over.
I used to own this one...
Might but myself another dual crown Super Compressor at some point.
That’s a great collection
The Enicars are lovely but the Benrus is the stand out for me.
Thank you for sharing.
Like others love those Enicars
Here is a more modern take on the dual crown that I happen to be wearing today
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damn this thread .... quick google has come up with this:-
https://www.ukspecialistwatches.co.u...1973-full-set/
Fantastic collection, there's a good few of them I'd love to have to go with my own Lip Super Nautic-Ski. Quick look on the net and the prices for these types of watches seems to have shot up over the last few years.
I know what you mean; that was possibly a contributing factor in my collection not increasing in number...but I still like 'em
- - - Updated - - -
I don't know about a full set, but that's a very full price!
edit - another similar one found, also full set, same ballpark price (same original owner?):
edit 2 - realised it is the same watch, priced differently
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/enicar/sh...id10323732.htm
Last edited by Stanford; 2nd May 2019 at 22:37.
Ha ha!!!!
Thank you 😊
It was my request…. You without a doubt (to my tastes) have the finest collection on TZ…. How wonderful
Love the Baylor
The Sandoz and Hamilton are great too…
And that Rodania Waterman…. A dream watch for me!
If you’re a a Stamford resident…. I’m only down the road ;-)
Thank you very much for taking the time to do the photos - love it!!!!
One of the nicest (to me) all around collections I ve seen in some time.
Thanks for posting.
Fantastic collection. I love the utilitarian look of the Wittnauers, the Sherpa Jets are both great for the GMT (Enicar did so much right, in a slightly eccentric manner - just look at the chequered GMT hand)), and the IWC is really restrained and elegant, like a true IWC always should be.
But the Benrus is the star for me, those hands are bonkers, even if they do look ever-so-slightly short.
Thanks for posting, I think we do not get as many good, old-fashioned collections here of late, ones like this full of hard to find pieces that take time to accumulate. I do not mean time on a waiting list, but genuine research time finding that great thing, a good example of a rare vintage watch.
Thanks again
Dave
Thats a brilliant collection. I love super compressors. The IWC and LIP stand out for me.
Great Collection - my favourite is that part Yellow bezelled Enicar 👍
What a great collection, a really theme! Love the dial of the lip. Any chance of a close up. Can't tell if it's meant to be that detailed or if it's wabi. Thanks for sharing.
I've wondered about the 'patina' and haven't been able to reach a conclusion. However, because the printing and minute markers appear to be unaffected, and because I can't believe anyone would go to the trouble of refreshing those elements without refinishing the whole dial, I suspect the patina was created as part of the dial finish, partly because there are no signs of it getting worse and because some of the marks appear to be too straight to be random patination...or maybe it's simply that the printing is robust enough to resist the patination?
Last edited by Stanford; 4th May 2019 at 16:30.
What a lovely collection, thank you for sharing (and thanks to Wolfie for asking). I'm still fairly new to this game so it has been quite educational. I had heard the term but didn't understand what it was describing, now I do.
The Gerco is the stand out watch for me.
Thanks again.
Tapatapatapatapatalk
Compressor cases usually, but not always, with two crowns, were designed and made by EPSA (E. Piquerez S.A) for many brands. As far as I know there is always the EPSA trademark inside - a hard diving helmet.
Wow, superb collection, thanks for sharing. That IWC Aquatimer is a gem!
Yep looks like this
There are a few different case types made by ESPA
They have the divers helmet on the inside and the patent numbers
Quoted from Sweets (how they work)
So compressor and Super-compressor were originally names used and registered to EPSA (Ervin Piquerez SA) - case makers to various companies.
They were characterised as being cases designed to seal better and better with greater pressure, as the pressure itself pushed sealing surfaces closer together.
It is of course a term that has sinced passed into the WIS lexicon with some distortion added.
Because, not all compressors originally had two crowns or internal bezels.
The best example would perhaps be the Lemania dive supervisors watch, which was a single crown compressor case.
However, it has generally come to mean a twin crown case.
And the problem has been compounded by JLC comandeering the term for their own ranges.
But it was originally a trademarked name for a range of waterproof cases.
Some more super compressor stuff here https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...er-compressors
And here. https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...per+compressor
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Lovely collection
A colleague of my fathers used to wear a yellow Sherpa-jet
Always admired it!
Thank you for the further reading, it is very interesting. It seems that another gap in my collection has been created.
A UG Polerouter compressor would be a (7) grand addition!
Nice collection.
By the way, do you like internal rotating bezel?
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Lovely collection, thanks for posting. The enicars and gerco look very cool.
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Superb collection!
Another fan of supercompressors here, allthough I sold my last (42mm) one, a while ago.
The Aquatimer would be the number one for me!
My Compressor LIP, from the second series of the late 60's.
The first series are the black dialled ones, the very earliest of which have the bezel numerals at 15/30/45 and with LIP embossed on the crowns, the later have the 10/20/30 etc. Last time I got that serviced it passed a pressure test, which impressed me. Oddly enough the pointer on the bezel appears to be tritium, but the rest of the lume is non radioactive, light activated.
That's where all the SuperCompressors are... I'm looking for one, but haven't seen one with a price within my budget for some time now.
Thanks S. The dial is pristine, I suspect because it wasn't worn much and the seals remained good. The slightest moisture can impact the dials in these. A watchmaker in Spain of all places. Got his details from a Spaniard I knew at the time and I was over there regularly enough.
Finally …. After many years searching I tracked one down!
I am so pleased with it…. Slightly different from Stamford’s as my hands are slightly different and I have a red date wheel (this did vary - not sure why!)
Even comes in its own original presentation box…. Really delighted 😀
Joins my other two super compressors
Anybody else got some to show off?
That's a beauty Wolfie, you found a yourself a cracker there. Congrats.
Rodania made some really great quality watches.
I always come across them for their use of Lemania movements.
And I spent a long time trying to find a Rodania Geometer that someone might have overlooked. But I never succeeded and I doubt that any will ever get "overlooked" again.
Dave